If you’re still searching for that perfect holiday present-the Wii U is it. Fun for the whole family and a pricepoint (just under $300) that can’t be beat when it comes to all the features offered read more for why we’re recommending the Wii U.
We have a house full of game lovers. We play board games, card games, apps, and of course video games. Since my husband and I both enjoy using the latest technology we are always on the lookout for new ways to play. Now that we have a 16 year old at home he’s adopted the same attitude. With a goal of being a game designer as a career he’s constantly obsessing over the latest now too.
When Nintendo released the Wii U last year to great fanfare he and his little brother became obsessed with the idea of getting one. Even though we tend to be early adopters we waited since we already had a Wii and other systems and instead they got Nintendo 3DS systems for the holidays.
This year it was top on ALL the kids lists. Not only because they’ve seen it in action at friend’s houses, stores, and events we’ve attended-but also because they like games that are only offered by Nintendo.
When we attended KidzVuz Holiday House party last month the girls (11 and 9) got hands on with the Wii U again and I got the ‘we’ve gotta get that’ talk more than once from my 9 year old. And I have to admit I was pretty sold too.
When KidzVuz and Nintendo contacted us about reviewing some items of course I said yes. I was hoping we would get some new 3DS games, but instead this beauty showed up on our doorstep.
The Wii U is an all new gaming system from Nintendo. It’s not just another upgrade or option-it’s a whole new way for your family to game with Nintendo. That you can still use your old Wii games is a huge cost savings over the other latest systems.
One of the things I’ve always loved about Nintendo is the focus on family fun. It’s kid-friendly in design and content which makes it much more fun for everyone. Sure there are still adult titles you can play but even my husband and 16 year old love to play games like Legends of Zelda and Mario Kart that the whole family can play along with.
Wii U
The Wii U has two main components-the console itself and the touch pad known as the Wii U GamePad. Priced to sell at $299.99 it comes with both the GamePad and the Wii U console.
The console itself is full of features that make it user-friendly. It has wireless network connectivity, bluetooth, and four USB ports ( 2 on the front-two at the back), and a SD memory card slot so you can view photos or videos right out of your camera.
The GamePad has its’ own set of features included a 6.2 inch screen, built-in microphone and speakers, a headphone jack, and can even act as your TV remote!
The GamePad is what makes the WiiU such a fun gaming experience. With the GamePad you have a whole new screen to play on and can even act as the way to play if someone else wants to use the TV. You can use the touchscreen with a tap or swipe, shake it, tilt it, and even talk to it to interact. We found the GamePad to be super easy to use for everyone in the family from the 7 year old to Mom. 😉
We liked that it could be used in so many ways-as a controller, another screen option, using the touchscreen or stylus to control games, and of course using it for gameplay while the TV is being used in another way.
Nintendo’s e-shop
One of the things we loved the most was how easy it was to find and download content. With Nintendo’s e-shop you can purchase games and download them directly to your console. In addition you can find add on content that you can’t find anywhere else! I hope that they continue to make more and more available through the e-shop since we are going digital with most of our content now-preferring it over a physical disc since it’s easier to find and we don’t have to worry about damage (always a concern with 4 kiddos at home).
We downloaded updated versions of Wii Sports favorites-Bowling, Tennis, and Golf. They are updated with unique controls for the GamePad and at only $9.99 (or $1.99 for a day pass).
The golf was by far my favorite. Here’s what Nintendo shared about how the game works:
“By placing the GamePad on the floor, players can see the golf ball they are about to hit on the GamePad screen. The golf ball will even be sitting on the same surface that it is in the game (fairway, sand trap, rough, etc.). After players swing their Wii Remote Plus controllers like a real golf club, the ball will fly from the GamePad screen to the main TV screen and onto the virtual course.”
The thought that went into the using the GamePad goes beyond adding a new dimension of play into a ‘WOW’ moment where everyone in the family will want to join in.
TVii
Let’s face it though-consoles need to do more than just help us play games. So we were thrilled to try out TVii- the Wii U’s answer to all things TV. You can download movies, rent them, or stream your favorite shows right from your favorite streaming service or DVR. Some ways we used it so far:
- Set shows to record
- Browse live TV
- Create profiles for each family member with their favorite shows
- Check sports scores (handy for my football fan husband)
- Find out more info about an actor or news story
Our Wii U Review
Now that we’ve got all the feature talk out of the way, let’s talk about our experience. While it has only been a short time I’ve fallen pretty hard for the Wii U as a family-friendly console that not only makes gaming time more fun but allows us to do more than just play games. The GamePad added a new dimension to our gameplay that was innovative and entertaining.
As I shared above we there a few things that have made it our go-to gaming system. I love that we are able to personalize our experience-not only are Miis a fun way to create a profile, but your profile can be used to customize your experience and do things like add your favorite TV shows to your profile for easier viewing. This makes it such a kid-friendly way to watch and play since you don’t have to worry about really young kids finding content that is more mature than they are!
We have always had a soft spot for Nintendo’s classic games since they are what we grew up playing, and no other gaming system quite compares when it comes to the family fun that we have when playing Mario games.
Overall I found the system to be easy to use, provided us with hours of fun in a variety of ways from gaming to streaming movies, and the pricepoint can’t be beat when you compare it to other gaming systems.
For more info on the Wii U including features, comparisons, and pricing head over to Nintendo.com/WiiU or buy Wii U 
on Amazon.
Disclosure: Nintendo provided us with a Wii U.
The game pad looks like an amazing feature. I also think it is awesome your son wants to be a game designer.
It is a really neat way to continue or add another player to the game. Thanks!
The WiiU looks awesome! Sounds like such a great gift idea for the whole family! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Thanks Kelly! To you and yours too!